William "Red" Holzman

(1920 - 1998)

When he retired, Red Holzman was the second winningest coach in NBA history (Red Auerbach is #1), with 696 victories in regular season play, mostly with the New York Knickerbockers. His Knick teams won NBA championships in l970 and l973. Red was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach in 1986.

He coached New York from December-l967 until his "first" retirement in l977. He returned in November, 1978, and continued through the l981-82 season. Red also coached NBA teams in Milwaukee (as player-coach) in the l954-55 season, and St. Louis l956-57.

A City College of New York (CCNY) All-America in l942, Holzman joined the pro Rochester Royals following World War II. In 1946, he made the All-League team, as the Royals became one of the original franchise teams in the Basketball Association of America. Red was an All-Star member of the Royals l950-51 NBA Championship team--the NBA’s first season--completing his active career with the l953-54 season.

Sources: International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame